China encourages elderly to volunteer as workforce shrinks and population ages

Beijing moves to upgrade Silver Age Action initiative for elderly to help in community as top legislature moves to raise retirement ages

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China is encouraging elderly people to volunteer in childcare, senior care, community patrols and help for the disabled. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 7:00pm, 21 Sep 2024Updated: 7:33pm, 21 Sep 2024

China has issued guidelines to encourage elderly people to volunteer in community services and help underdeveloped areas as the country grapples with a rapidly ageing population and shrinking workforce.

The National Committee on Ageing has released a set of guidelines for the Silver Age Action initiative, introduced two decades ago to promote volunteer work by the elderly, according to a statement on Friday from the civil affairs ministry.

“[We aim to] upgrade Silver Age Action, improving its quality and effectiveness, to safeguard the rights of the elderly to participate in economic and social development, as well as achieve meaningful social engagement,” the guidelines say.

The committee urged local authorities to incorporate Silver Age Action into regional cooperation between eastern and western provinces as well as intra-provincial development plans to guide educated elderly people in supporting less developed regions.

The elderly are encouraged to volunteer for community activities and local authorities urged to help them take part in patrols, childcare, senior care, disability assistance, and support for disadvantaged and “left-behind” children, a term for youngsters ho remain in rural areas while their parents go to work in big cities.

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China to raise retirement age by up to five years amid economic slump

The guidelines come as the world’s second-largest economy grapples with a slowdown and the mounting pressures of a rapidly greying population alongside a shrinking workforce.